Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Might is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time for recognizing their vital contributions to the historical past, tradition, and achievements in the US. (Go here to learn more.)

At APM, we wished to take this chance to study extra about our APM Household and what their historical past, tradition, and heritage means to them.

Kailani Jones, Advertising Administrator at American Pacific Mortgage

Kailani Jones had a protracted historical past of occasion expertise earlier than she began with APM as our advertising and marketing administrator. Kailani—whose title means “sea and heaven”—has ties to Hawaii rooted in her father’s aspect of the household, all of whom have been born and raised there.

Kailani embraces her Hawaiian tradition by way of hula, a apply that was stripped from Hawaiians by way of colonization, was introduced again by King David Kalākaua as tribute, and is now how they impart their historical past.

Kailani likes to have a good time the Merrie Monarch competition in April, which accommodates a worldwide broadcasted competitors with hālaus—hula colleges—from everywhere in the island and mainland. Throughout this 12 months’s competition, Kailani’s cousins took half within the Ho’ike night time, a night of hula dancing and different artistic performances.

Hawaiian gatherings characteristic all various kinds of ono (scrumptious) meals, together with poi, laulau, lomi salmon, mac salad, kalua pork, and Spam musubi, a neighborhood favourite that her youngsters love. As soon as the feast is prepared, everybody gathers fingers to say a blessing.

Kailani believes a approach we will study from her tradition is thru the aloha spirit. This consists of treating each other with love, respect, and compassion. She additionally feels strongly about treating the ‘āina (land), together with its Native folks, with respect. Hawaiians consider that what you give can also be what you obtain.

Kailani and her household greet each other by way of a honi, a kiss on the cheek. They like to hike, dive, surf, take pleasure in seaside days with the household, and most of all simply spend high quality time with each other.

Kailani now lives on the mainland in California and tries to convey a little bit of dwelling together with her by nonetheless talking pidgin, a mix of languages that was created through the plantation period as a approach for all ethnicities to speak with each other by way of a single language. Pidgin remains to be used at this time in Hawaii.

Her household additionally takes their footwear off on the door, an indication of respect to the house owner by retaining the house clear of outdoor germs and dust. Kailani’s household gatherings normally embody Hawaiian music and sometimes a ukulele, which generally results in dancing and much more enjoyable.

Kailani has additionally saved in contact together with her Hawaiian roots by way of “Mama,” her auntie, who was the closest particular person she needed to a grandmother after hers handed early on. Mama taught Kailani classes from an early age that she wouldn’t have discovered being raised on the mainland. An important of these classes have been understanding her roots and that household, loyalty, respect and compassion have been every little thing she wanted in life.

Mama was the glue to Kailani’s household. The traditions she taught her dwell inside herself and her youngsters at this time.

Total, Kailani believes that ohana (household) is a very powerful factor concerning the Hawaiian tradition. That’s the explanation Hawaii is Hawaii.

Meena Na, Department Supervisor at Aspect Mortgage

Born in Seattle, WA, Meena credit her mom, who immigrated to the US with Meena’s older sister (one month outdated on the time), for a lot of her understanding and appreciation of the Korean tradition. “My mother thought it was essential to take care of the heritage, the tradition, and the language, so she spent many, many hours preventing with me to ensure I discovered methods to communicate, learn, and write Korean.”

And whereas it takes loads of effort, Meena is grateful for the chance to have a good time each cultures in her dwelling. “For any individual who’s born and raised within the U.S., I feel we do spend an distinctive period of time, effort, power, and emphasis on making an attempt to maintain the traditions alive—and I’m making an attempt to do the identical for my ladies as properly.”

With the assistance of her mom, Meena’s household celebrates each the American and Korean holidays, together with each American and Korean variations of Thanksgiving (Chuseok in Korea) and the New 12 months. She notes one main similarity in celebrating holidays throughout each cultures: “You collect with your loved ones and spend the complete day getting ready extra meals than any regular particular person may eat after which sit down collectively to share what was made. Chuseok means ‘Autumn Eve’ and is an enormous harvesting season in Korea as properly.”

She additionally actually enjoys the Korean traditions that pertain to her younger youngsters, together with celebrating 100 days after start, in addition to an enormous first birthday celebration (Doljanchi). “I admire it far more now, as a mom, than I did as a baby and discover myself extra enthusiastic about celebrating and passing on our traditions.”

As a Korean American, Meena appears to be like at her twin cultural upbringing as a luxurious. “I get to see the professionals and cons of each cultures and it helps me make total higher life selections for myself and my household.” In her skilled life, Meena attracts from the Korean tradition of servitude and laborious work, which she implements daily when delivering glorious customer support and getting all of her purchasers to a easy closing.

Ian and Kimberly Cumugan, Off-Shore Crew Administrator and Off-Shore Assistant Crew Administrator

Born within the Philippines, married couple Ian and Kimberly Cumugun immigrated to the U.S. in 2010—the final of their household to make the transfer. Just lately, they discovered themselves again within the Philippines understanding of APM’s Manila workplace. With Kim as his second hand, Ian heads up the offshore groups in Manila, Philippines, and Sutherland, India, who associate with APM’s underwriting and post-close groups to evaluation paperwork for underwriting, conduct post-close audits, and extra.

Previous to taking the positions in Manila, Ian and Kimberly lived in Mountain View, CA, and labored on the APM capital markets group. When the chance got here up, they discovered it was a terrific match culturally and professionally, in order that they took a leap of religion and made the transfer. We talked with them about their Filipino tradition and the way it performs such an vital function of their lives at this time.

Ian and Kim describe the Filipino tradition as festive, fun-loving, and hospitable. Giant gatherings with household and buddies are widespread and revolve round meals. Based on Ian, “In case you are invited to a Filipino dwelling, then prepare for a feast and prepare together with your favourite tune since you’re going to must sing karaoke and there can be a lot of dancing.”

Deep-rooted customs like “Pakikisama” (the concept concord and unity is valued above all else) and “Bayanihan” (a customized that refers to working collectively as a neighborhood to attain a typical aim) imply that household, neighborhood, and social duty are on the forefront of Filipino tradition. It’s widespread for neighbors and buddies to be known as “uncles” and “aunties” due to the close-knit neighborhood.

Work ethic and schooling are additionally extremely valued within the Filipino tradition. Kim and Ian describe how highschool and school grad charges are excessive, even in slum areas, as a result of schooling is prioritized. It’s one thing they proceed to make use of of their day-to-day lives and attempt to move alongside to their groups. “We at all times say, attempt to develop into a sponge on a regular basis. Life is a steady means of studying, so maintain an open thoughts, be humble, and continue to learn. These are the issues that have been culturally embedded since we have been younger.”

Earlier than making the transfer, Ian and Kim made some extent to go to the Philippines yearly with their household to stay linked with their roots. Whereas cities like Manilla are extra just like the U.S. with a really world tradition, they take pleasure in visiting their provinces the place conventional Filipino values are nonetheless on the forefront.

Malyna Phan, Department Supervisor at Large Valley Mortgage

Malyna Phan, Department Supervisor for Large Valley Mortgage in Elk Grove, CA, sat down to speak with us about what it means for her to be a Vietnamese American and the way she continues to have a good time her tradition together with her household.

One of many greatest methods she celebrates her tradition is by recognizing Tet, or Vietnamese New 12 months. It’s extensively thought-about a very powerful celebration in Vietnamese tradition and interprets to “Pageant of the First Morning of the First Day,” which takes place on the primary day of the primary month of the Vietnamese calendar (round late January or early February). It’s celebrated by cooking particular vacation meals, giving “fortunate cash” to youngsters and the aged, and household time. One in all her favourite methods to really feel linked is with meals and conventional Vietnamese gown (Ao Dai) throughout celebrations.

Malyna credit her father for her servant chief perspective. He was a servant chief in Vietnam earlier than the conflict, and helped lots of their buddies, household, and neighborhood unite with their household from Vietnam by way of the sponsorship course of. “He inspired us to give attention to our lecturers, keep humble, and work laborious to make sure a brighter future.” Malyna says, “I’m proud to hold on his legacy to at all times love and honor my household and buddies, and proceed his work as a servant chief.”

In her skilled life, Malyna has served on the board of the Higher Sacramento Chapter of the Asian Actual Property Affiliation (AREAA) since 2017. Malyna is the present chapter president and makes use of her platform to advertise sustainable homeownership alternatives in Asian American communities, which marries her two passions of homeownership and supporting her AAPI neighborhood fantastically.

Should you’d wish to study extra about APM’s dedication to variety and inclusion, go here to examine our mission and technique.